Whistler's Fire Wheel | Conservation Stories
Conservation work that was considered impossible now reveals new details of a celebrated night scene by James McNeill Whistler. Take a closer look alongside conservator Gabriella Macaro, as she tests paint solutions and reveals the scientific processes that allowed this breakthrough.
00:00 - Intro to Whistler's Nocturnes
00:15 - Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Fire Wheel (1875)
00:31 - Newly visible details
01:05 - Conservation challenge and new method
01:55 - Scientific examination of paintings and pigments
02:27 - Testing paint for The Fire Wheel's ground layer
04:18 - Before and after
04:28 - Retouching
05:08 - Whistler's letters
See this painting and more masterpieces by Whistler in the new survey of his work, open at Tate Britain until 27 September 2026: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/whistler
Subscribe for more stories from behind the scenes at Tate: http://goo.gl/X1ZnEl
To license Tate films please email film.licensing@tate.org.uk
00:00 - Intro to Whistler's Nocturnes
00:15 - Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Fire Wheel (1875)
00:31 - Newly visible details
01:05 - Conservation challenge and new method
01:55 - Scientific examination of paintings and pigments
02:27 - Testing paint for The Fire Wheel's ground layer
04:18 - Before and after
04:28 - Retouching
05:08 - Whistler's letters
See this painting and more masterpieces by Whistler in the new survey of his work, open at Tate Britain until 27 September 2026: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-britain/whistler
Subscribe for more stories from behind the scenes at Tate: http://goo.gl/X1ZnEl
To license Tate films please email film.licensing@tate.org.uk
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